Katherine

[StrawberryCat]

We think we might have chosen Kate as our top fave name, but would probably want Katherine on the BC (I know we dont necessarily need to but at the moment DH is keen to). But what do you think of Katherine and how would you spell it?
Katherine, Catherine or Kathryn?

You have made a great choice, the best choice - is all I'm saying

I'm glad there are so many variants of the name tbh. On my childhood street there were four of us all the sameish age. One was also in my class and there was another Catherine in my class to that didn't also live near me. It was a very popular name at the time it seems! But we were all spelled differently, so there was no confusion really. It's a timeless classical name with lovely short forms, so I'm glad to see a few more around recently.

From my experience, however you spell it, everyone will always misspell it anyway. It's not been a big issue in my life so far.

I dislike the spelling “Katharine”. There is enough confusion over “Katherine with a c or a k?” Without adding another letter change. Plus, the pronunciation is different, people tend to say “KathARine” which sounds like a cough medicine or something. I know because this is my sister’s name and she hates the spelling!

I'm Katherine but always known as Kate, or sometimes Katie (or Katey Baby to my mum. Even though I'm old now). I'd say just call her Kate. It's irritating having a full name that I only use for official documents. I don't hate it, but it's annoying.

I don’t like Katherine with any spelling. I know it’s a classic name, but it just sounds dated to me.

I love Katy for a little one, possibly moving to Kate as she grows. And for the record, I know quite a few Kate/Katy/Katie’s who are just that on their BC and they are a variety of ages, so the name seems to travel well through life

I’ve got a 3 month old Kate, just Kate. I don’t like Kathryn, would never call her it so just went with Kate. It’s a lovely name and not many around.

I don't know a single Katherine who uses/likes their full name. I'd just go with kate.

Personally I prefer Catherine shortened to Cate or Cait.

Although K or C either can be shortened to Kathy / Cathy or Kath / Cath. Interestingly, I know a few Kaths , but no Caths.

Not sure this adds anything to the discussion though

Someone once told my mum that Katherine was southern and Catherine was northern 🤔

I have a Katherine- beautiful, strong name that suits her.

The West of Scotland inlaws call her Caffreeeen.

Cait and Cate are awful.
I suppose Cait short for Caitlin is ok but not as short for Catherine.

Interesting that OllyBJolly's reference to the -een pronunciation also relates to Scots - maybe it is/was regional. I never heard the -inn pronunciation until the 80s and assumed people had just become lazy in how they said it, a bit like how Carolyn seemed to replace Caroline.

I'm not a fan of any of the shortenings, although Kitty is OK. My aunt (-eeeen) is known by just about all of them, but the most annoying one of all is Reen. (Note: not Rinn! )

My daughter is 'just' Kate and she loves her names, and gets a lot of compliments on it. It makes a change from all the Katy/Poppy/Millie type names.

I'm southern and it's Kath-rin pronunciation here

I like the Catherine spelling best.
If you go for a K use ine rather than ryn .
It's great name.

I am a Katherine but have never been called that, although I do like it. I was Katie when I was little and I'm Kate now.
I know two adult Catherines , one goes by Cath and the other Catherine. There's also an 11 year old Kate at the school I teach at. She's just Kate.

It's a great name! If you like Kate, OP, call her that without the long version. Kate could have the usual nn that Katherine has anyway.

K if you want the nickname Kate, C if you want the nickname Cath.

Hate it OP (sorry). Boring, dull and outdated.

I know a Caitlin nicknamed Cait.

Just be careful, OP, you might get a wilfull toddler ego refuses to have her full name abbreviated/changed. My parents tried “Katie” on me and I wouldn’t have it. I’m definitely not a Katie, Kate, Kath or Kathie.

Whilst I am usually one for "full names on birth certificates", I do think there are a few nicknames which have been used long enough now for them to be names in their own right - Kate is definitely one of these IMO. (Also Jack, Harry, Molly).

Weirdly I love Katy as a nickname, yet Katie makes me shiver! (Yes, I'm odd).

Im from the West of Scotland and have a sister called Katherine but she has always been known as Katie and it infuriates her when people pronounce her name as kath-reen everyone seems to do it! So Ive always called her reeny because it annoys her 😂🙈

As per redexpat

I am a Katherine and I hate it. I've always been called Kate and Katy. Any time I do get called Katherine it sounds like another person. If you want to call her Kate, just put Kate on the BC.

Exactly this - I could have written this, only I am only ever katie. Please call her Kate it’s a proper name, Kate is a proper name - it’s elegant and neat. katherine is elderly lumpy name that every one spells like their friend kathryn/Katharine/Catherine etc.

I prefer Catherine, but Katherine does make more sense if you want Kate.

Kate is fine as a standalone name though, and you're going to risk Kathy, Katie, Kitty etc. with Katherine.

I’m a Katherine, known as Kate. My parents asked me when I was little if I liked Katherine or a shorter version and I chose Kate as it was shorter to write than Katie!

All the Catherine’s I know are Cat’s, the Katherine/Katharine’s are Kate’s or Katie’s, and the Kathryn’s don’t shorten.

I don’t mind being a Katherine but never use it, everyone knows me as Kate, so if you like Kate just go with that on the bc.

Katherine for sure. I really like Kate and think you should spell Katherine with a K if you want to get Kate as a nickname from it.
If you spell Katherine any of the other ways she'll have to spell out her ame her whole life, which gets really annoying (trust me!)